41

C

CABALA. From the Hebrew, meaning
the “received” or “traditional.” The Cabala
is a varied set of teachings and literature
that emerged from pre-Christian Judaism
through the fourteenth century and is
outside of the Hebrew Bible. Cabala
teaching reflects Neoplatonic influence
in its portrait of creation in terms of ema-
nation. Sin is separation from the source
of being, God, and salvation is to be found
in union with God. Cabala teaching is
un-orthodox; for example, some Cabala
tradition posits that God exists beyond
the God of orthodoxy.

CALVIN, JOHN (1509–1564). French
Protestant who flourished in Geneva,
Switzerland, and whose teaching became
central to Reformed churches and
Presbyterians. Calvin stressed the sublime
sovereignty of God as the gracious, just,
and provident Lord of creation. The cre-
ated order is the result of common grace,
while the redeemed order of those called
to salvation through Christ is a function
of special grace. Salvation is not merited
by good works but by unmerited grace.

Calvin saw human history as a theater of

God’s glory in which human beings

are saved from their fallen state of total

depravity. His work brought together a

legal, systematic methodology as well as

a zeal that helped shape European, refor-

mative culture. Calvin is the author of

Institutes of the Christian Religion (final

version 1560).

CALVINISM. Calvinism is a set of

theological beliefs adapted by followers

of John Calvin’s teachings. Calvinism

has been accepted by some Protestant

churches as a doctrine which stresses

predestination, the need and want for

God’s grace, and the sovereignty of God.

Calvinism began in the sixteenth century

as a thought system stressing God as the

key reference point in everything that

takes place, both on a human and a cos-

mic level. Under this assumption, humans

are completely dependent upon God for

common and special grace leading to

salvation. The key points of Calvinism

can be summarized with the acronym

TULIP: Total Depravity, Unconditional